I started removing the paper and borders from my bulletin boards today. It was so strange! It feels like I put them up (in the sweltering August heat) just recently.I can't believe I'm almost done with my first full year of teaching. It was...interesting. I enjoyed it for the most part, but there were definitely parts of it that I'm so glad are over. My freshman class was pretty tough, both classroom management wise and just developing a curriculum wise, since I had so little to work with at the beginning of the year (and so little time!). I will miss my sophomores though. My first period class was like the perfect class. They participated, they listened to me, and they really seemed interested in learning. I can't imagine having had a better class to start my day with in my first year of teaching.
Looking back, if I got the chance to do this year over again, I'd definitely do a lot of things differently, but I think given the time, materials, and experience I had at the beginning of the year, I did a really good job with what I had. While I would change things if I went back now, I don't think I could have possibly known to change those things without doing them the way I did in the first place, so I guess I don't have any regrets!
It is exciting to know that I have a job for next year. I'm so thrilled to be going into the summer with the knowledge that I will have an income next year and that I won't be scrambling to find a job a week or two before school starts like I was this year. It means that I can actually relax this summer instead of filling out countless job applications.
It doesn't quite seem real that it's the end of the year, yet.
